New York

John Roberts, a promoter of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, died Saturday of cancer. He was 56.

Roberts co-produced the world's most famous rock concert with Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld and Joel Rosenman. They funded the festival with Roberts' inheritance and ticket sales. They lost $2.3 million but recovered their loss with royalties from film and album spin-offs, and held on to the profitable name and trademark symbol of a dove on the neck of a guitar.

Roberts' company, Woodstock Ventures, tried to produce a 25th anniversary of Woodstock festival at the original site in Bethel, but the plans never got off the ground. It was staged in Saugerties.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Roberts later invested in other companies, avoiding the music business. Roberts also was a championship bridge player.